Rankings & Research

The 2018 Jeep Renegade ranked #10 in Subcompact SUVs.
Currently the Jeep Renegade has a
score of 7.8
out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 35 pieces of research and data elements
using various sources.

Features & Specs

Photos

Is the Jeep Renegade a Good SUV?

The Renegade is a decent subcompact SUV that offers city-friendly daily driving and plenty of modern features, combined with the terrain-tackling abilities of a Jeep. Amenities like a touch screen, a rearview camera, and Bluetooth are newly standard for 2018. However, the cheapest model still lacks commonly standard features, like air conditioning and cruise control. The Renegade also has lower fuel efficiency estimates than most rivals.

Should I Buy the Jeep Renegade?

If you're shopping for a small crossover or you're specifically shopping for a Jeep on a budget, the Renegade is worth a look. Few class rivals match the Renegade's off-road abilities, relatively upscale interior, and user-friendly tech features. However, before you sign on the dotted line, you should check out some competitors. The high-ranking Mazda CX-3 has better gas mileage and the best on-road performance in the class. Many competitors offer roomier cabins or more standard features than the Renegade.

Should I Buy a New or Used Jeep Renegade?

For 2018, a 5-inch touch screen, a rearview camera, and Bluetooth became standard in the Renegade. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available for the first time as well. If you don’t need these features, consider shopping for a used model from 2017 or earlier to possibly save thousands of dollars. The Renegade was introduced for the 2015 model year. Aside from an optional Beats audio system that debuted for 2016, all model years prior to 2018 are nearly identical.

To do more research on used Renegade models, check out our reviews of the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Jeep Renegade. If you decide an older model is right for you, check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts on used vehicles.

We Did the Research for You: 35 Reviews Analyzed

To help you decide if the Jeep Renegade is the right new car for you, we've gathered and analyzed 35 professional Jeep Renegade reviews. We've also included information about the Renegade's fuel economy, features, and more to give you an idea of its strengths and weaknesses. This 2018 Jeep Renegade full review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which spans the 2015 through 2018 model years.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News & World Report has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our Best Cars team has more than 75 years of combined experience in the auto industry. To keep our reviews free from outside influence, we don't accept expensive gifts or trips from automakers, and a third party manages the ads on our site.

How Much Does the Jeep Renegade Cost?

The base Jeep Renegade Sport is the lowest-priced model in the class, with prices starting at $18,445. The top-of-the-line Limited trim with four-wheel drive starts at $27,145, which is still a bit lower than many rivals' priciest models.

Jeep Renegade Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Jeep Renegade or Jeep Wrangler?

Although he Renegade is the most off-road-capable SUV in its class, it can't compete with the iconic Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler has larger tires and a higher ground clearance, along with other off-road-oriented upgrades that help it tackle terrain that the Renegade just can't handle. Its engine choices are much more powerful than the Renegade’s, too. The Wrangler is fully redesigned for 2018, after over a decade with its prior generation. If you like to hit the trails on a regular basis, the Wrangler might be a good fit. However, the Renegade is a better choice for everyday living. It feels more civilized on the road and gets better fuel economy than the thirsty Wrangler.

Which Is Better: Jeep Renegade or Mazda CX-3?

The Mazda CX-3 is one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the class, with sporty handling and deft maneuverability. It may not have the Renegade's off-road machismo, but the CX-3 has much better fuel economy. The Mazda earns some of the best crash test scores in the class, and it supplements that with standard low-speed automatic emergency braking. The Mazda's top-notch interior wouldn't feel out of place in a luxury vehicle, which helps make it a better overall SUV.

Renegade Interior

How Many People Does the Renegade Seat?

The 2018 Renegade has seats for five on standard cloth upholstery. Available upgrades include leather upholstery, heated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Even tall adults will have plenty of headroom in both the front and back thanks to the Renegade's boxlike design. Front-seat legroom is good, though the rear seats have less legroom. The seat cushions are a bit firm but still comfortable.

Renegade and Car Seats

There are full sets of LATCH connectors on the outboard rear seats, along with an additional upper tether anchor on the middle rear seat. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives this LATCH system a Marginal rating – the second-lowest score – for ease of use.

Renegade Interior Quality

The Renegade's cabin punches above its class, with a modern interior design fitted with upmarket materials. The plastic trim pieces that cover some surfaces are nicely sculpted and feel high quality. Many design elements – including a mud splatter motif on the gauge cluster – nod to Jeep's off-road heritage.

Renegade Cargo Space

With a maximum of 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space, the Renegade's cargo capacity compares well to rival subcompact SUVs. All models have split-folding rear seats so you can accommodate a mix of passengers and cargo. Higher trims feature a folding front-passenger seat to make room for long items like surfboards.

Renegade Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The Renegade's standard features list is unusual in that it includes nice tech features, like a 5-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, and a rearview camera, but not basics like air conditioning and cruise control, which are available. Other available features include a nine-speaker Beats audio system and an upgraded infotainment system with either a 7- or 8.4-inch touch screen along with smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Uconnect infotainment system is easy to use thanks to its straightforward menus and quick reactions. The Renegade's physical controls are also straightforward, though the low-mounted climate controls can be tough to reach from the driver's seat.

Renegade Performance

Renegade Engine: A Tale of 2 Transmissions

You have two powertrain options with the Renegade: a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a nine-speed automatic. Power delivery from the two engines is similar, with decent acceleration for highway merging and passing. The larger engine can feel a bit more unrefined under hard acceleration, however.

Renegade Gas Mileage: Thirstier Than Rivals

Regardless of powertrain, the Renegade falls short of many rivals when it comes to gas mileage. With the standard engine and manual transmission, the Renegade gets up to 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Models with the larger engine and automatic transmission only get 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Renegade Ride and Handling: Comfortable Ride, Nimble Handling

Even if your Renegade never leaves the pavement and sticks to city streets, you'll be happy to know that this SUV is just as at home on the daily commute as it is crawling along muddy trails, thanks to its comfortable and composed handling. The ride is nicely cushioned without sacrificing handling. The Renegade handles turns with agility and doesn't lean from side to side when cornering. Front-wheel drive comes standard, and four-wheel drive is available.

Renegade Off-Road Performance

Most subcompact SUVs struggle to keep going when the pavement ends. The Renegade, on the other hand, has some serious off-road capabilities. All trims are available with four-wheel drive and the Selec-Terrain system, which lets you choose from various modes to match performance to terrain type and allows for minor off-roading. Designed to handle tough trails, the Trailhawk trim comes standard with full-time four-wheel drive with low-range gearing, increased ride height, hill-descent control, skid plates, all-terrain tires, and tow hooks. The Renegade Trailhawk adds Rock mode (unavailable in lower trims) to the Selec-Terrain system.

Jeep Renegade Warranty

Renegade Safety

Renegade Crash Test Results

The 2018 Jeep Renegade performs well in crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives it the highest rating of Good in three crash tests and the second-highest rating of Acceptable in the small overlap front test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the front-wheel-drive 2018 Renegade four out of five stars for overall safety. It earns four stars in the frontal crash test, three stars in the rollover test, and five stars in the side crash test.

Which Jeep Renegade Model Is Right for Me?

The base Sport trim has few standard features – it doesn't even come with air conditioning or cruise control – so we suggest moving up to the Latitude model. This trim adds several advanced features including a larger infotainment screen with smartphone integration. Several optional packages are also available for this model.

A turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a manual transmission come standard in Sport and Latitude trims, while a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder and an automatic transmission come standard in Limited and Trailhawk models. Front-wheel drive is standard in all but the Trailhawk trim, which comes with full-time four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is optional in all other trims.

The Power and Air Group ($1,495) adds cruise control, air conditioning, and heated, power-adjustable side mirrors. The Uconnect 7.0 Group ($775) comes with dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, a 7-inch touch screen, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.

The off-road-oriented Trailhawk model starts at $26,845 and has the same features as the Latitude trim along with upgrades that improve off-road performance. These upgrades include an increased ride height, skid plates, all-terrain tires, tow hooks, and full-time four-wheel drive with low-range gearing.

The Final Call

Don't let the 2018 Renegade's middling ranking fool you – this subcompact SUV has a lot to offer. No other model in the class allows you to run errands in a comfortable, upmarket cabin and then tackle difficult off-road trails. You may be intrigued by the Renegade's lowest-in-class starting price, but that low cost means you'll miss some features (like air conditioning and cruise control) that come standard in most competitors.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

"If you're looking for an affordable compact SUV that doesn't just look rugged and ready for action but actually is, you'll like the 2018 Jeep Renegade. Unlike many in this class, the Jeep Renegade seeks adventure. It's up for more than a run to Costco and the mall; it likes to get dirty and it doesn't want to stay inside when it's snowing." -- Kelley Blue Book

"The Jeep Renegade certainly isn't the first carlike Jeep, but it's the first one to prove that Jeep styling and playfulness can translate successfully to a subcompact crossover. It's rewarding to drive yet still practical." -- Edmunds (2017)

"The Jeep Renegade is an excellent compact SUV. Jeep targeted the … Buick Encore and Kia Soul as primary competition. The Renegade is quieter and sportier than the Soul (no mean feat), … and more aggressive and capable than the Encore. With the growth expected in this segment, it's a bit premature to say the Renegade is the presumptive leader, but it's more than simply competitive." -- Left Lane News (2015)

Buying

Expert Advice

Last Updated: January 10, 2019

High, but Slowing Sales: The Jeep Renegade is currently neck-and-neck with the Buick Encore for second place in the subcompact SUV sales race, with the Subaru Crosstrek outselling each by more than 48 percent. Demand for the Renegade in 2018 was down 6.2 percent from sales figures in 2017.

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